Kansas school choice advocates rally at Statehouse

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Speakers at a Statehouse rally have urged Kansas lawmakers to give families more choice in where their children attend school and how they’re taught.

More than 50 people took part in Tuesday’s gathering to promote an array of options for what is broadly called school choice.

Some speakers advocated giving families tax credits or vouchers for private schools or home schooling.

They also urged expansion of a Kansas law that allows for limited charter schools, which are overseen by public school districts. In addition, lawmakers voted last year to create so-called innovative school districts that would be exempt from some rules and regulations

Speakers said the underlying issues are whether public schools are meeting children’s needs and the extent of parents’ control over how and what their children are taught.